I have been pottering with several DAWs for quite a while now. I have recorded a lot of stuff, so I am obviously able to get the basics out of them (midi, audio, effects, plug-ins...) , but I would like to get some knowledge about what I'd call (maybe it's not the right term) "wiring". I am a bit confused when it comes to understanding why so many outputs, how to use monitoring, how to make use of my audio interface software... Say in Ableton or Cubase, for instance, you can select all these different inputs/outputs for each track, sometimes mono or stereo... Why should you choose "master" instead of "ext. out"... Also, I don't know what to do with my audio interface software:it shows a lot of in/out, but I don't really understand it. Same with the DAWs audio config" panels that show tons of different settings, in/out... To me you need several ins for... your different inputs, and 1 out to get sound out! So, does someone know of a post, article, pdf, that explains these basics to me? Obviously, as I record alone with a couple of audio instruments and a controller, I don't need to understand everything, but I generally like to know what I'm doing and why. I guess not having experience with a hardware studio in the past does not help...Thanks for your help, and sorry if I posted this in the wrong section... Chers,

Which interface do you have (and which of the several is your DAW of choice)?

The purpose os multiple outputs is to allow you to rout signals to external fx or a hardware mixer. I use a Behringer X32 as my studio interface and mixer so use, typically, 16 inputs and 16 outputs, this allows me to mixdown on the desk and have several instrument mics and DI's permanently connected up.

If you are recording and mixing entirely 'in the box' then, as you say, you only really need one stereo output (though there are times when it is useful to have at least one more)

I use Ableton or cubase. Haven't decided which one I like most yet. Not really interested in Live's clip stuff though. What I need is something that records audio and has interesting midi instruments, which they both offer.Fast track ultra for audio interface, a laptop, a akg p120, novation launchkey, everything packed in a tiny room

Other example of my questioning: Sometimes when I record in ableton, the sound I hear in my headphones is like "duplicated", as if two signals were playing at very short Interval. That also makes me think I might not "route" things properly.

That sounds like the direct monitoring sound (i.e. straight from the interface) is mixing with the same audio after it has passed throughout the computer. I use Reaper so can't help with Cubase specific stuff but make sure you're not passing tracks through while recording them (Reaper defaults to not replaying record active tracks).